A school occupies a singular place in one’s life—not once, but twice. The first time, you are the one groggily rising before dawn, gulping down a glass of milk, and racing toward the gates of learning. The second time, you are the one rousing another, urging that same glass of milk down a reluctant throat, and shepherding them toward those same gates. It is in the space between these two experiences that the true measure of a Good School comes into focus.
I recently had the privilege of attending an immersive two-day workshop hosted by Learning Forward India Foundation, where a colleague and I sat—quite literally—in circle time once again, engaged in deep reading, discussion, and reflection. The question posed to us was deceptively simple, yet formidable in its scope: What makes a school good? Guiding these conversations was Mr Sandeep Dutt, ably supported throughout by his colleagues Kunal and Sneha.
The insights I gathered over those two days could easily fill a book and perhaps one day they will. For now, I offer this distilled reflection.
A truly good school is one unburdened by prejudice, artificial ceilings, or narrow thinking. It is a space that nurtures agency, champions self-directed learning, and opens multiple pathways to growth, through service, sport, skill, and scholarship; shaping individuals who feel genuinely whole. None of this is possible without sustained collaboration among teachers, support staff, management, parents, and students; it is this collective engagement that makes education a holistic, living experience.
As an educator, the workshop brought me back to the heart of my purpose: to spark curiosity, welcome questions, and mentor each individual in my care as the unique person they are. Above all, it reaffirmed a truth that should be self-evident—every single person is already a 10 out of 10, with limitless capacity to go further still.
My heartfelt thanks to Mr Sandeep Dutt and his team, Kunal and Sneha, for their thoughtful guidance throughout the workshop; to Learning Forward India Foundation for conceiving and organising such a meaningful experience; and to my school, Doon International School, for allowing me to attend.
Regards,
Nidhi Verma
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